The Rise of the Third Reich

The meeting with Piłsudski in Magdegeburg Prison was just the beginning of a series of contacts between the two parties. On the one hand, it is impossible to reach an agreement on such an important matter in one or two meetings.

On the other hand, the reconstruction of a Greater Poland between the Soviet Union and Germany was only part of the second plan of the "Gray Plan", and the "Gray Plan" itself was just a plan to deal with the worst situation.

At the beginning of 1918, the situation did not seem to be so bad. When Hessmann returned to Berlin on February 15 (after leaving Magdeburg, Hessmann also went to inspect the Gulf of Riga), the news was not too bad. The offensive launched near Ypres has made some progress and has recovered all the ground lost in the Third Battle of Ypres (July 22 to November 6, 1917). However, the Arras and Raffaele attacks on the Somme line made no new progress. It was obvious that the attack in this direction had been blocked.

Although the two almost desperate offensives achieved some success, and compared with the positional warfare on the Western Front in the past four years, the achievements of the German army adopting new offensive methods are worth boasting about. But as Hessmann sat having lunch in the dining room of the General Staff Headquarters, he still felt the oppressive atmosphere. This is exactly the opposite of the situation within the General Staff during the February Revolution in Russia about a year ago.

"There may be three more large-scale offensives in March and April, which should be more successful then."

"Yes, we can probably force France to sue for peace. Their blood is almost drained and they probably won't be able to hold on for long."

Hersmann's two colleagues in the East, Colonel Haushofer and Major Schleicher, were discussing with him the various news coming back from the front. The three of them sat mysteriously in the corner, at a considerable distance from the other diners, so that they could talk more safely.

"Maybe the French will be like the Russians, collapsing when victory is in sight." Hessman sighed, "Maybe not, then we will be in trouble!"

In fact, he already knew that the French would not collapse. Although Ludendorff's two attacks made some progress. But it did not inflict unbearable damage to the enemy - after all, this is not World War II with roaring planes and roaring tanks. Unless this is the case of the "soldiers commanding officers" of the Russian Army on the Eastern Front, even a breakthrough would only be a few dozen kilometers high. Moreover, the casualties on both sides were almost the same, with an exchange ratio of killing ten thousand enemies and losing nine thousand. It's not so much a war as it is a fight for population... Now Britain and France suddenly have the United States, a country with a population of 100 million, and many sober-minded German officers actually already know that the situation is impossible.

"Ludwig, how is your 'Greater Poland' plan going? If the situation never improves, we will need it." Colonel Haushofer said. Now the General Staff is preparing to sue for peace. The main purpose of formulating the "Gray Plan" is for this...surrender must be planned! We must not be like Russia, where we lose completely to the outside world and start another civil war among our own people.

When asking for peace, of course we must refer to the "Fourteen Points of Peace Conditions", which includes Poland. Since the enemy wants to give Poland access to the sea, then give it! If Danze is not possible, then the only option is to find a port on the newly occupied Russian land.

Therefore, the "Greater Poland" plan proposed by Hersman is still good in the eyes of the senior staff of the General Staff. It can not only preserve Danze, but also turn Poland into a barrier that isolates Russia and Germany. In this way, there is great hope for Russia and Germany to establish a consolidated alliance in the future.

"The plan has been worked out, and there are no problems on Piłsudski's side, at least... there will be no problems before the hard time (referring to defeat) comes. He will soon be the winner, the father of the Polish Republic, a powerful dictator , I won’t commit suicide now!”

Piłsudski would never commit suicide at any time, but when he met with Hessmann that day, if he dared to refuse, he would have committed suicide - this is obvious, the Germans are willing to support the Great Bobo Federation, If it was too little, how could Piłsudski still be allowed to live?

"But when the hard times really come, the Poles may still betray." Hersman's tone darkened.

Historically, the resentment of the Germans towards Poland after World War I was not unreasonable - the Republic of Poland was actually restored with the help of Germany... Without Germany, Lenin would not have agreed to Poland's independence! However, after World War I, Poland not only refused to repay its kindness, but also bit Germany hard and swallowed West Prussia and Poznan. This is clearly a white-eyed wolf!

"If so, they will definitely pay a heavy price in the future!" Colonel Haushofer was an expert in regional politics. Of course he knew how crazy it was for Poland to be enemies of the Soviet Union and Germany at the same time. He thought for a moment and then said, "I also want to go to Magdegeburg in person and have a good talk with Piłsudski... If he can act like a true friend when Germany is in trouble, it will be a good thing in the future." Germany and Germany will definitely become the closest friends."

Most Poles don't have such wisdom, otherwise they wouldn't always be divided up. When Hessmann thought of this, Schulenburg, Marshal Hindenburg's adjutant, came over. He said in a low, worried tone: "Major Herssmann, Marshal, please go to his office immediately."

…

When Hersmann arrived at Marshal Hindenburg's office, the Marshal was having lunch. There was a small coffee table next to his seat, with a plate on it containing half-eaten salted pig's trotters, bread and coffee. Two chairs were placed opposite the marshal, and a captain in his early thirties was already sitting on one of the chairs. He had big eyes, a big nose, big ears, and a big mouth. He was a very impressive-looking man. He was stunned for a moment when he saw Hessmann's military rank, then stood up and performed a military salute.

Hindenburg said: "This is Captain Nicholas von Falkenhorst, Adjutant to General Golz - and this is Major Ludwig von Hersmann, Order of the Blue Max The recipient is now the head of the Russian section of the Eastern Division of the Military Intelligence Service."

Captain Falkenhorst's big eyes widened even more when he heard the "Blue Max Order". And Hersman also looked at Captain Falkenhorst. If he remembered correctly, this was Falkenhorst, the "Conqueror of Norway" in World War II.

Hindenburg said: "According to the current plan, General Goltz will serve as the supreme commander of the garrison in the Baltic region, and together with Baron Adolf Pilar von Pierburg, they will jointly manage the Baltic region." Major Sman, please tell Captain Falkenhorst the general content of the "Courland Plan."

I have met Baron Herschmann of Pierreburg several times. He is a noble landowner in the Baltic region. He was instrumental in leading the way when Germany invaded Courland. Now he is the leader of the Baltic local council. Hessmann has to find a way to resettle the Germans brought by Hessmann from Russia - this is of course an extremely difficult task, but this A baron has arranged so many people in an orderly manner.

The core of the "Courland Plan" formulated by Hersman is also related to population migration, which is to concentrate all the Germans in the Baltic into Courland and Livland, and then merge these two provinces that were originally part of Tsarist Russia. It became the Courland Autonomous State - this country is equivalent to the historical Latvia.